Let's define success first so that we don't become messy arguments about this later. I put success to mean becoming a developed country..
All countries with east asian majority reached developed status within a few decades except for china which was under communists and kept out of world trade until the GATT agreement in the 80s that allowed investment to flow in and goods to flow out. All these countries were under different systems Taiwan under KMT, Japan under LDP, Korea under various govts, Hong Kong under British rule. ....all succeeded ...and China even under communist party rule can grow so rapidly once they have access to free trade. So what do these countries have in common? Hard working people and these hard working people succeed under various forms of leadership and systems. ...and these countries see their east asian culture and people as the main reasons for success.
However in Singapore, the PAP using the media it controls took always take credit from the people by claiming that the pap is the main reason for the success of Singapore. This is not true. Without the hard work of ordinary Singaporeans, Singapore would not succeed...and this was the essential key to our development.
But economic success is a means to an end. It is meant to uplift the quality of life of the people and this is where the pap system cause failure. The 3 primary benefits becoming a developed country are 1. Unversal healthcare system 2. Lower income inequality 3. Care for the elderly. When you are in a true developed country when you get sick you only need to think about getting well not your medical bills. In a true developed country there is low income gap because wages of workers are high. In a true developed country people would grow old and age gracefully and comfortably not work as cleaners ...
You may point out exceptions here and there on 1 or 2 of these areas but no developed failed on all 3 aspects of delivering quality of life to its people except Singapore and that is the main result of the pap system...failure to deliver quality of life. It is no coincidence we are the least Democratic of developed countries with the most concentrated power in the hands of few elites that control the system to narrowly benefit the few
